On a calm Friday evening in Pueblo, Colorado, the community was shaken by a sudden act of violence that claimed the life of a well-known local businessman. Fred Andrew Ettleman, a 79-year-old male, was fatally shot on February 24, 2023, in the parking lot of the King Soopers on West Northern Avenue. The incident occurred at approximately 8:22 p.m., shattering the evening's peace and leaving a community in search of answers.
Emergency services responded to the scene and transported Ettleman to a local hospital, but he succumbed to his injuries.
A resident of Rye, Ettleman was a prominent figure in the southern Colorado region. He was a veteran of the Vietnam War, having served as a Green Beret, and was a long-time State Farm insurance agent with offices in both Colorado City and Walsenburg. His death was one of two homicides that occurred in Pueblo within a two-hour span that evening, although investigators believe the two incidents were unrelated. In the days following the shooting, the Pueblo Police Department appealed to the public for information, specifically asking for help in identifying a possible suspect vehicle.
As the investigation into Fred Ettleman's death continued, authorities assured the public that they were diligently working the case. Months after the incident, in September 2023, the Pueblo Police Department indicated that while they had identified a suspect or suspects, they were facing challenges in gathering sufficient evidence to secure an arrest. The investigation remains active and ongoing as detectives continue to evaluate evidence and seek out witnesses. To date, no arrests have been publicly announced, and no suspect or suspects have been officially named in connection with the homicide. The community is left to mourn the loss of a respected member while awaiting a resolution to the case.
